Meet Jamie and guide dog Carol
Jamie kneels with guide dog Carol in front of a row of bushes.
Jamie Crowell & guide dog Carol
Charlotte, North Carolina
Jamie Crowell needed a guide dog with strong skills that could keep up with her active schedule, and a sweet black Labrador named Carol fit the bill. “She’s awesome; she’s a very mature dog, very calm and laid back. She’s exactly what I need right now,” Jamie says.
Blind since birth from an inherited retinal disease called Leber’s congenital amaurosis, Jamie has overcome many barriers, especially in college and in employment. She majored in communications and minored in psychology at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, and now works at the National Industries for the Blind. After work, she heads to the YMCA for water aerobics, weight lifting, and spin classes, and for outdoor cycling, she rides in tandem. “Carol will make it easier at the Y, getting around things and people,” Jamie says.d/p>
After two previous guides from another school, Jamie is particularly excited about Carol’s skills. “The training here is very thorough,” she explains. “I like the fact that they teach the dogs to ‘find’ things, like find the chair or find the door handle. When I go get my allergy shots we can find the elevator and find the door faster.” With Carol by her side, Jamie looks forward to being independent once again.
